Tom Brady wowed Michigan players during last summer's surprise visit

Credit: Matt West

FORTY THE NEW THIRTY: Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino thinks the Patriots have no need at the moment for an heir apparent to Tom Brady, who wants to play beyond his 40th birthday.

Patriots undrafted rookie linebacker Cameron Gordon explained it best while reflecting on last year's unexpected encounter with Tom Brady on the Michigan campus.

"We just came to a meeting, and there goes Tom Brady," Gordon said today. "It was great."

Brady spoke to his alma mater's football program last August before the Patriots' preseason loss to the Lions in Detroit. His message hit home with Gordon and seventh-round wide receiver Jeremy Gallon, who are now Brady's Pats teammates.

Gordon changed positions from wide receiver to safety to linebacker before he was overlooked in the draft, and Gallon was a seventh-round pick. Brady, a sixth-rounder in 2000, really hit home with the pair.

"Just hard work and dedication," Gallon said to sum up the purpose of Brady's speech. "He was a late-round draft pick. He came here and he was determined for greatness. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get where he is. I just want to follow in those footsteps. What I got from that speech was to have hard work and dedication. Don’t give up on your dream. No matter what round you get picked in, just continue to play football. You come here and you learn what you've got to learn, and you get your opportunity. You’ve got to take advantage of that."